Springfield police investigating 10th murder of the year

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WSHM) -

Springfield police are investigating the city's 10th murder of the year. It happened in the city's Indian Orchard neighborhood Sunday night. John White, 38, died following a single gunshot wound to the chest.

"We heard like pops from a gun and we all ran out we didn't see anything we just saw a big crowd," said Kayla Marsh.

One day after the fatal shooting police remained in the area for much of the day searching for evidence. Many people in the community told CBS 3 that they are still on edge following the shooting.

"To have something like this happen kind of just riles up the neighborhood, it's just scary," said Marsh.

Police responded to Montcalm and Healey streets just after 5 p.m. on Sunday after shots were fired.

"When they arrived on scene there were citizens tending to a 38-year-old male that was lying in a driveway at the end of Montcalm Street," said Springfield Police Sgt. John Delaney. "They were applying first aid, officers took over right away, applied first aid, did CPR. An ambulance responded to the scene and took the victim to the hospital."

Police say according to witnesses there was an altercation prior to the shooting and that's when an unknown individual took out a handgun and started firing.

"It seems Mr. White came out of his house on Healey Street when the fight was going on to see what was going on. And, when he did as he got closer to the scene, this is when a subject took out a gun and started randomly shooting at the people he was having a fight with," said Delaney.

And with the suspect still on the loose, neighbors say they're not taking any chances

"I got to hold my kid's hand now, it's not the same anymore," said Alberto Medina. "She can't even go to the store alone now, how else can we do it."

The murder remains under investigation. It was the city's 10th homicide of the year, and fourth in the past four weeks. This year's homicide toll almost doubles last year's at this time. Last June there were six murders reported.

Anyone with information about this murder is asked to contact Springfield Police Department's Detective Bureau at 413-787-6355.